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Did you know that the first country to sign the association agreement was...?
The Association Agreement (AA) plays a vital role between the European Union (EU) and non-EU countries. The main purpose of such treaties is to promote bilateral relations in a variety of areas, including politics, trade, society, culture and security. According to the European External Action Service, for an agreement to be classified as an association agreement, it must meet certain criteria, including the establishment of close economic and political cooperation.
The legal basis for an association agreement is Article 217 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which emphasizes the need to establish an equal governing body capable of taking decisions binding on all parties.
Greece was the first country to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union in 1961, followed by Turkey in 1963. These early agreements marked the EU’s first steps in extending its influence and promoting economic cooperation.
Over time, more non-EU countries began to sign association agreements, often in exchange for commitments to economic and human rights reforms. For these countries, association agreements often mean duty-free access to the EU market, as well as financial or technical assistance.
Recently signed association agreements often also include free trade agreements (FTAs), further strengthening the EU's economic ties with external partners.
Currently, several countries, such as Moldova and Ukraine, have established association agreements with the EU. Especially under the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and the Stabilization and Association Process (SAp), Western Balkan countries such as Albania and Serbia have signed Stabilization and Association Agreements with the EU, showing that these countries are moving towards the goal of closer cooperation with the EU.
As global politics and economics continue to evolve, so too do the content and scope of these agreements. For example, many recent association agreements have incorporated clauses on human rights and democratic principles, demonstrating the EU's expectations of its partner countries.
It is noteworthy that since 1995, clauses on the fundamental principles of human rights and democracy have been systematically included in association agreements, making them an essential element of the agreements.
While many countries have made progress in negotiating and signing association agreements, some have been unable to complete agreements due to internal issues or external pressure. For example, Syria’s association agreement with the European Union has been indefinitely postponed, partly due to concerns about the Syrian authorities’ handling of the internal conflict.
These association agreements not only have an impact on the signatory countries and the EU itself, but also trigger widespread discussion in areas such as the environment and the economy. Particularly in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors, the competitive pressures created by these trade agreements threaten local industries in some countries.
The impact of trade agreements often results in local agriculture coming under intense competition from large foreign producers, while manufacturing may benefit from globalization.
As global trade continues to change and EU policy adjusts, what will be the future of these association agreements? Will these partnerships deepen or face more challenges in the coming years?
